Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2004

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his period of active service and granted this claim. The Board also found no evidence linking the veteran's tinnitus to his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including irregular heartbeat, ringing in the ears and vertigo, prostate disorder, and low back pain. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need to adjudicate a claim of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) with respect to a May 1978 decision denying his original claim for service connection for tinnitus. The earlier effective date issue on appeal will be held in abeyance pending resolution of the CUE claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for separate compensable evaluations for tinnitus in each ear, finding that only a single 10 percent evaluation is assignable under current regulations.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected tinnitus, currently rated at 10 percent, was denied. The maximum allowable rating under the applicable VA regulations is 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected tinnitus does not warrant a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current tinnitus is related to his active military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The VA has determined that the veteran's tinnitus, currently rated at 10 percent, does not warrant a higher rating as there is no provision in the current or previous versions of Diagnostic Code 6260 for separate ratings for each ear. The maximum disability rating available under this code is 10 percent.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, renal calculi, sinusitis with headaches, prostatitis, and varicose veins. The RO will also obtain any outstanding medical records.

The Board has determined that the veteran is already in receipt of a maximum schedular rating for bilateral tinnitus, and no higher evaluation can be assigned under current regulations. The claim for separate ratings for each ear is denied as the regulation does not allow for such evaluations.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for additional development and review, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The veteran is advised to timely file a Notice of Appeal with the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims if they wish to appeal any denied issues.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the veteran's Meniere's disease and left ear tinnitus are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, but denied service connection for tinnitus. The claimant's current tinnitus is not linked to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus did not begin during or as a result of his military service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, finding that a single 10 percent evaluation is appropriate for bilateral tinnitus under current VA regulations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for neck pain, headaches, memory loss, visual problems, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as secondary to his service-connected skull fracture with concussion and cephalgia. The VA examinations did not find any current disabilities related to these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are due to noise exposure during his active military service, warranting service connection.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding new and material evidence. The claim will be further considered on its merits.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation, and his claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied.